Interview De Minaur: ‘Maybe I should come back for the cars sometime’

Alex de Minaur is known as a speed demon on the tennis court, but his career has been much more gradual. Year after year, he takes new steps up the ladder. As a brand new top10 player, the ladder to the top has been climbed quite a bit by now.

You have already beaten an appealing string of top players this year, including Djokovic, Nadal, Zverev and Medvedev. And just now you are coming from Paris, where you were a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros.
‘I am very happy with my performance. I see this season as a turning point in my career. Reaching the top10 was a huge goal of mine and it makes me very happy to have achieved it. This makes me look ahead with enthusiasm.’

So starting with the switch from gravel to grass this week.
‘Yes, it may only be a short part of the tennis year, but I love the grass season. I always look forward to it, especially as it follows the hardest part of the year for me. Gravel has traditionally been my least court type so it really gives me a mental boost once I’m on grass because I often get good results there.’

You’ve been to the Netherlands quite a few times now. Is there anything in particular you look forward to when you come to our country?
‘I love ‘stroopwafels’ and have done for quite a long time. On my way here, I always rejoice at the thought of knowing that a packet of stroopwafels is waiting for me when I arrive at the hotel. I have on my list that I want to taste them warmly prepared one day.’

You are known for your flashy footwork and enormous energy you put into competitions. What do you usually eat before you hit the court? Something other than syrup waffles probably.
‘Actually just very simple pasta, with maybe some olive oil, and maybe a bit of chicken. It’s pretty boring, haha. I want to avoid eating things that could go wrong when I have to run so much.’

Is there a topic you would like to talk about more often in interviews?
‘If I relate it to other passions and interests in my life, I end up with golf and classic cars. I myself have a traditional green Mini Cooper and that’s my baby. I have heard about what exactly the Autotron is, but unfortunately I haven’t seen any exhibitions here myself. Maybe I should come back sometime for the cars instead of tennis, haha.’

What would you like to spend more time on if you could?
‘I find watches very interesting. I would like to learn more about the mechanical aspects behind them, how everything works and is developed. That kind of thing has always fascinated me. I have a similar feeling with classic cars, which I would also like to gain more technical knowledge about. Furthermore, I would be on the golf course more often.’

What is the best thing that has happened to you outside tennis in 2024?
‘I do come up with something related to tennis, because I think of the moment I witnessed my friend Katie Boulter’s first tournament victory in San Diego. I myself had won the title in Acapulco that week, so for that to come together like that was insane for us.’